Full level indicator for refuse compactor

ABSTRACT

A secondary control system for indicating when the compaction chamber of a refuse compactor is filled to capacity comprises a flexible cable strung over two pulleys secured to the ceiling of the compactor. One end of the flexible cable is secured to the compactor platen while the other end is secured to a free-hanging weight, and a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;bullet&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; is attached to the flexible cord above the weight. A sleeve is positioned above the bullet, and a conventional switch is secured to the sleeve in such a way that passage of the bullet through sleeve triggers the switch. During compaction, downward travel of the compactor platen pulls the bullet into the sleeve and thereby triggers the conventional switch. If the compaction chamber is full of compacted garbage, the bullet remains in the sleeve, and the conventional switch remains triggered when a pressure sensitive switch indicates the end of the compaction stroke. Simultaneous activation of the conventional switch and the pressure sensitive switch indicates to the apparatus control system that the compaction chamber is filled to capacity.

United States Patent [191 Merkin FULL LEVEL INDICATOR FOR REFUSECOMPACTOR [75] Inventor: Eugene Merkin, Old Forge, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Union Environmental Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.

22 Filed: on. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.1 298,381

[52] US. Cl 100/52, 100/53, 100/99,

Primary Examiner-Billy .1. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fleit,Gipple & Jacobson [111 3,822,638 July 9,1974

[ ABSTRACT A secondary control system for indicating when the compactionchamber of a refuse compactor is filled to capacity comprises a flexiblecable strung over two pulleys secured to the ceiling of the compactor.One end of the flexible cable is secured to the compactor platen whilethe other end is secured to a free-hanging weight, and a bullet isattached to the flexible cord above the weight. A sleeve is positionedabove the bullet, and a conventional switch is secured to the sleeve insuch a way that passage of the bullet through sleeve triggers theswitch. During compaction, downward travel of the compactor platen pullsthe bullet intothe sleeve and thereby triggers the conventional switch.lf the compaction chamber is full of compacted garbage, the bulletremains in the sleeve, and the conventional switch remains triggeredwhen a pressure sensitive switch indicates the end of the compactionstroke. Simultaneous activation of the conventional switch and thepressure sensitive switch indicates to the apparatus control system thatthe compaction chamber is filled to capacity.

23 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures FAIENIEUJUL 9:914 3,822,638

SHEET 2 BF 2 Fig.2

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FULL LEVEL INDICATOR FOR REFUSE COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTlONThe present invention relates to a control mechanism for a refusecompaction apparatus.

US. Patent application Ser. No. 120,296, filed Mar. 2, 1971, now US.Pat. No. 3,741,107 and US. Pat. application Ser. No. 224,614, filed Feb.8, 1972, disclose a portable refuse handling apparatus for compactingrefuse with a hydraulically actuated reciprocating ram. In order toautomatically control the compressing action of the reciprocating ram,the apparatus is provided with a primary control system comprising aconventional pressure activated switch which senses the pressure of thehydraulic fluid powering the ram. During the compaction stroke, thehydraulic fluid pressure switch is activated when the hydraulic fluidpressure builds to a predetermined limit. In response thereto, thepressure of the hydraulic fluid is relieved and the reciprocating ramreturned to its original position.

Because the compaction chamber is not open to view during the compactioncycle, it is desirable to provide the compaction apparatus with asecondary control system for determining when the compaction chamber isfilled to capacity with compacted garbage. A secondary control systemhas been developed which takes the form of an elongated rod, attached tothe upper side of the reciprocating ram platen, and a conventionalswitch adapted to be tripped by a metal flag secured to the rod. Whenthe compactor is operated, the metal flag on the elongated rod movesinto tripping engagement with the conventional switch. lf the compactionchamber is not filled to capacity, the ram platen continues its downwardmovement and the metal flag therefore moves out of tripping engagementwith the conventional switch before the pressure sensitive switch isactivated. Consequently, a full compaction chamber is not indicated andthe operation of the apparatus left unaffected. However, if thecompaction chamber is filled to capacity, the metal flag remains intripping engagement with the conventional switch when the pressuresensitive switch is activated. This simultaneous activation of bothswitches indicates a full compaction chamber and hence causes the maincontrol, mechanism of the compactor to active an appropriate light orbuzzer and prevent further compaction cycles once the ram has returnedto its initial position.

While the secondarycontrol system described above operates adequatelymost of the time, it is occasionally subject to breakdown. For example,when the compaction chamber is unevenly loaded with refuse, thereciprocating ram is oftentimes deflected from its normal path oftravel. Consequently, the metal flag of the secondary control system ismoved out of its normal path of travel, and as a result, the metal flagfails to trip the conventional switch when it should. The secondarycontrol system is thereby prevented from operating properly. Moreover,depending on the type, amount and loading of the refuse in thecompaction chamber, and the amount of stress placed on the hydraulicsystem of the assembly, the reciprocating ram may be subject torotation, vibration and lateral displacement. These unwanted movementsmay also cause the metal flag of the secondary control system to bedeflected from its normal path of travel and thereby prevent thesecondary control system from operating properly.

A second drawback associated with the abovedescribed secondary controlsystem occurs usually when the portable refuse handling apparatus isused in a multi-dwelling apartment building. Typically, the compactor isconnected to the trash chute of an apartment'building by means of anopening in the back of the compactor so that refuse falling down thechute falls directly into the compaction chamber. Unfortunately, it hasbeen found that newspapers placed in the trash chute often fail to fallcompletely into the compaction chamber. When this occurs, thenewspapers, located half in the compaction chamber and half out of thecompaction chamber, may not only deflect the reciprocating ram as itmoves downwardly into the compaction chamber, but also completely blockthe further travel of the reciprocating ram. Consequently, the primarycontrol system is activated and the reciprocating ram withdrawn withoutcompacting the refuse. And because the ram does not travel far enoughfor the metal flag of the secondary control system to engage theconventional switch, this jamming is not sensed by the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asecondary control system for the type of portable refuse handlingapparatus disclosed in the aforementioned applications which isinsensitive to the irregular movements and displacement of thereciprocating ram.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a secondarycontrol system which is capable of sensing a jam of the compactionapparatus so that the repeated operation of the machine after jammingcan be eliminated.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide asecondary control system meeting the above .objects which is of simpleconstruction and very easy and economic to produce.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON These and other objects are accomplishedaccording to the present invention wherein the inventive secondarycontrol system comprises a flexible cable attached at one end to theplaten of the reciprocating ram and at the other end to a free hangingweight. The body of the cable is strung through at least one pulleylocated at the top of the compactor so that upward or downward movementof one end of the cable causes the other end to move in a verticallyopposite direction. A bullet is secured to the cable a predetermineddistance above the free hanging weight and the hanging portion of theflexible cord is strung through an appropriately shaped sleeve larger incross section than the bullet. A conventional switch is fixedly securedto the cylindrical sleeve so. that passage of the bullet through thesleeve trips the switch.

In operation, lowering of the reciprocating ram causes the hangingportion of the flexible cable including the hanging weight and thebullet to be raised. The bullet then passes through the cylindricalsleeve and momentarily engages and trips the conventional switch. If thecompaction chamber has little or no compacted garbage init, the bulletpasses through the sleeve before the pressure sensitive switch of theprimary control system is activated. Consequently, .a full compactionchamber is not indicated, and the operation of the apparatus is leftunaffected. If the compaction chamber is relatively full of garbage, thebullet remains in the sleeve in tripping engagement with theconventional switch when the pressure sensitive switch is activated.This simultaneous activation of both switches indicates that thecompaction chamber is filled to capacity, and consequently the maincontrol box of the apparatus activates an appropriate light or buzzerand prevents further compaction cycles after the ram has returned to itsinitial position.

Because the portion of the flexible cable bearing the bullet isseparated from the portion of the flexible cable attached to the platenby at least one pulley, the bullet is effectively insulated from variousirregular move ments of the ram. Moreover, because the cord bearing thebullet is strung through a cylindrical sleeve having the conventionalswitch integrally associated therewith, the bullet always trips theconventional switch even if the hanging portion of the cord isinadvertently moved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may better beunderstood by reference to the following drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a schematic front view of a portable refuse handling apparatusequipped with the inventive secondary control system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cylindrical sleeve employed in theinventive secondary control system.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing how the time delay switch is associatedwith the cylindrical sleeve.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bullet which is attached to the flexiblecable in the inventive secondary control system; and

FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a second embodimentof the inventive secondary control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, a portablerefuse handling apparatus as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,741,107 and US.Pat. application, Ser. No. 224,614 is schematically shown at 10 to becomposed ofa main body portion 12 having outer walls 14 and I5 andceiling l6. Within the outer walls 14 and I5 and in the lower portion ofthe apparatus is the compaction chamber 18 defined by compaction chamberwalls 20 and 21.

Secured to an upper portion of the compaction chamber walls 20 and 21 isa brace 22 which carries a double acting hydraulic cylinder 24. Thepiston 26 extending from the double acting hydraulic cylinder 24 isfixedly attached to platen 28 which is adapted to move into compactionchamber 18 to compress and thereby compact refuse contained therein.

A conventional hydraulic pump 30 is fluidly attached to double actinghydraulic cylinder 24 near its top by means of hydraulic fluid line 32and near its bottom by hydraulic fluid line 34. The function ofhydraulic pump 30 is to pump hydraulic fluid at high pressure intodouble acting hydraulic cylinder 24 above its piston head during thecompaction stroke and to thereafter pump hydraulic fluid at acomparatively lower pressure into double acting hydraulic cylinder 24below its piston head during the withdrawal stroke. Many hydraulic pumpsaccomplishing this function are known in the art, and any conventionalpump can be used.

Fluidly connected to hydraulic fluid line 32 is pressure sensitiveswitch 36. During the compression stroke of the compactor, the pressuresensitive switch senses the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in line 32.When this pressure reaches a predetermined level, the pressure sensitiveswitch signals the main control box 38 by means of electrical lead 40,and consequently, the compression stroke is stopped and the returnstroke initiated.

In order to prevent the machine from being filled beyond capacity, theinventive secondary control system is provided. Referring again to FIG.1, a flexible cable 42 is attached at one end 43 thereof to the platen28. The cord is strung over pulleys 44 and 46 each secured to ceiling 16of the apparatus. The other end of the flexible cable 42 is suspendedfrom pulley 46 between outer wall 14 and compaction chamber wall 20 ofthe apparatus. Secured to the suspended end of the flexible cable 42 isa weight 48, and secured to flexible cable 42 a small distance aboveweight 48 is bullet 50. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, flexible cable 42 isstrung through cylindrical sleeve 52 which is fixedly secured tocompaction chamber wall 20 roughly halfway between the floor and ceilingof the apparatus. The exact structure of cylindrical sleeve 52 isclearly illustrated in FIG. 4 which shows the sleeve to be composed of amain body portion generally cylindrical in shape with each end of thesleeve formed by outwardly tapering walls. Part of the wall of thecentral portion of the cy lindrical sleeve 52 is cut away so that a hole54 communicating with the inside of the sleeve is formed.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, a conventional switch 56 is secured tocompaction chamber wall 20 in close proximity to cylindrical sleeve 52.Switch 56 is provided with a tripping button 58 and an arm 60 secured toa lower portion of the switch. Arm 60 carries a shaft 62 on which isrotably secured a depresser 64 and a first link 65. A second link 66 isrotably secured at one end to first link 65 by means of shaft 67 and itsother end to cam roller 68. As shown in FIG. 5, cam roller 68 ispositioned within hole 54 of cylindrical sleeve 52.

First link 65 and depresser 64 are so secured to shaft 62 that clockwisemovement of first link 65 about shaft 62 causes depresser 64 to depresstripping button 58 of switch 56. In addition, second link 66 isrotatably mounted on shaft 67 so that it can rotate counterclockwiseabout shaft 67 through an angle of roughly 30, and a suitable spring(not shown) is positioned between second link 66, shaft and first link65 to bias them in the position shown in FIG. 5.

Conventional switch 56 is electrically connected to main control box 38by means of electrical leads 69 (FIGS. 1 and 5). When depresser 64depresses tripping button 58 and thereby activates conventional switch56, an electrical impulse is sent to main control box 38 by means ofelectrical leads 69.

As previously indicated, the suspended end of flexible cable 42 carriesa bullet 50 fixedly secured thereto. The construction of this bullet isindicated in FIG. 6 which shows the bullet 50 to have a cylindrical mainbody 70, the diameter of which is smaller than the inside diameter ofcylindrical sleeve 52, and two conically shaped end portions 72 and 74.A hole 76 whose diameter is slightly larger than the diameter offlexible cable 42 is bored in the axis of bullet .50, and a small hole78 communicating with hole 76 is threaded to accept a set screw forfixedly securing the bullet onto flexible cable 42.

in operation, the portable refuse handling apparatus is in theconfiguration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 at the beginning of each compactioncycle. When the machine is actuated, the hydraulic pump 30 pumpshydraulic fluid at high pressure into the top of double acting hydrauliccylinder 24 and the platen 28 moves downwardly into compaction chamber18. As platen 28 begins to move, it pulls end 43 of flexible cable 42along with it which in turn causes the suspended portion of the flexiblecable to be pulled upwardly by means of pulleys 44 and 46. As thisoccurs, bullet 50 is drawn into cylindrical sleeve 52. Because of itsshape, bullet 50 exerts a force on cam roller 68 to the right as shownon FIG. 3, which in turn causes first link 65 and second link 66, as aunit, to rotate clockwise about shaft 62. As a result, depresser 64depresses tripping button 58of conventional switch 56. I

If there is a comparatively little amount of compacted refuse incompaction chamber 18, platen 28 continues to travel downwardly untilthe pressure in hydraulic fluid line 32 reaches the predetermined limitwhere the compression stroke is stopped. Accordingly, bullet 50, whichhas moved upwardly into cylindrical sleeve 52, continues its upwardmovement so that it moves completely out of the cylindrical sleeve.Consequently, the force on cam roller 64 is no longer exerted by bullet50 and links 65 and 66 therefore move counterclockwise therebydeactivating conventional switch 56. Because conventional switch 56 isdeactivated before pressure sensitive switch is activated, simultaneousactivation of both switches does not occur, and hence a full compactionchamber is not indicated in main control box 38.

After the pressure sensitive switch 32 is activated and the compressionstroke thereby stopped, platen 28 is withdrawn upwardly so that thebullet passes downwardly through cylindrical sleeve 52. However, whenbullet 50 engages cam roller 68, second link 66 and the cam rollerrotate counterclockwise about shaft 67 about 30, thereby preventingfirst link 65 from causing depresser 64 to depress tripping button 58.

When the compaction chamber 18 is substantially full of compacted refuseand the apparatus is operated to compact an additional amount of refuse,downward travel of platen 28 again causes bullet 50 to be carriedupwardly into cylindrical sleeve 52. Because of the great amount ofcompacted garbage in compaction chamber 18, the pressure in hydraulicfluid-line 32 builds and pressure sensitive switch is activated whilebullet 50 is still in cylindrical sleeve 52. Consequently, bothconventional switch 56 and pressure sensitive switch 36 are activated atthe same time which indicates a full compaction chamber. In responsethereto, appropriate circuitry in main control box 38 causes anindicating light or buzzer 84 to operate and prevents further compactioncycles once the ram has returned to its initial position.

As indicated above, the inventive secondary control system isinsensitive to all types of irregular apparatus movement, such aslateral displacement, rotation or jamming of the platen, vibratoryoscillation of the platen or vibratory oscillation of the entiremachine. This result is primarily due to the fact that the free hangingportion of flexible cable 42 which carries bullet is supported by pulley46 which is substantially the only element capable of exerting lateralforces on the bullet. Since pulley 46 is not connected to platen 28 itreceives little or no irregular movements from the platen and hencetransmits little or no irregular platen movements to the bullet. Inother words, pulley 46 in effect insulates the free hanging end offlexible cable 42 and hence bullet 50 from all but the vertical movementof platen 28. Consequently, movement of bullet 50 which actuates theconventional switch 56 is insulated from irregular movement of theplaten.

A further advantage of the inventive control system is that it iscapable of operating properly even if unwanted lateral movement isimparted to the hanging portion of the cord. This is due to the factthat flexible cable 42 is strung through cylindrical sleeve 52.Consequently, any significant lateral movement of the bullet which mayoccur is effectively dampened by the sleeve. Moreover, because bullet 50and cylindrical sleeve 52 are sized and shaped complimentary to oneanother, the bullet is drawn into the sleeve even if the bullet ismoving laterally.

As mentioned above, bullet 50 is made so that its exact position onflexible cord 42 can be changed with respect to weight 48. This featureenables the operator of the refuse handling apparatus to change theheight of the compacted refuse mass produced by the apparatus at will.For example, with bullet 50 secured to flexible cord 42 in the positionshown in FIG. 3, the height of the compacted refuse mass produced by theassembly will be comparatively small. If, however, bullet 50 is raisedon flexible cord 42, for example five inches,

the compacted refuse mass produced by the machine will be five incheshigher. This follows since the platen in the latter case will be fiveinches higher in compaction chamber 18 when bullet 50 is in cylindricalsleeve at a time simultaneous with the triggering of pressure sensitiveswitch 36.

In this regard, a preferred embodiment of the invention contemplatespositioning a marker 80 (FIG. 3) next to flexible cord 42 above weight48 and below cylindrical sleeve 52. Appropriate indicia can be placed onthe marker 80 so that the height of bullet 50 indicates the height ofthe compacted mass produced by the apparatus.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the inventive secondary controlsystem. In this embodiment, a second bullet 82 is positioned above thefirst bullet 50. The second bullet is advantageously used in thoserefuse handling apparatus employed in apartment buildings where largequantities of newspapers in addition to other types of refuse need to beprocessed. Since the platen 28 occasionally jams at a particular levelwhen newspapers are processed, second. bullet-82 is positioned so thatit will cause conventional switch 56 to be activated in the event of ajam at this level. Consequently, the jam of the machine with newspaperscan be readily sensed so that further operation of the machine in theevent of a newspaper jam can be prevented.

The various parts of the inventive secondary control system can be madefrom any suitable material. Thus, all types of metals, alloys, plastics,whether thermosetting or thermoplastic, rigid or non-rigid, can beemployed to make the pulleys, cylindrical sleeve, weight and bullet ofthe inventive system. In addition, any material known to make flexiblecables, such as steel, plastics, rope, twine and so forth can be used tomake the flexible cable.

While a few specific examples of the inventive secon dary control systemhave been described above, it should be understood that manymodifications of the specifically described system can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In this regard, itshould be appreciated that the operation of main control box 38 inindicating a full compaction chamber and preventing further compactioncycles can be made dependent on the secondary control system only andhence independent of the pressure sensitive switch 36. In thissituation, conventional switch 56 is replaced by a time delay switchwhich is selected so that its tripping button must be tripped for afinite period of time, for example two seconds, before its electricalcircuit is actuated. When a time delay switch is employed, the bullettravels into and out of cylindrical sleeve 52 in exactly the same manneras above described. However, when there is little compacted refuse inthe compaction chamber, passage of the bullet through cylindrical sleevetrips the time delay switch only momentarily. Consequently, the electriccircuitry of the time delay switch is not actuated. However, when thecompaction chamber is substantially filled with compacted refuse and thebullet remains in the cylindrical sleeve for an extended period of time,the electrical circuitry of the time delay switch is actuated toindicate that the compaction chamber is filled to capacity.

It should also be understood that while the foregoing description hasshown the cam roller 68 to be linked to the depresser 64 by meansoflinks 65 and 66 which are moveable with respect to each other, thelinking means need not be of such intricate nature. Thus, one embodimentof the invention contemplates that first link 65 and second link 66 bereplaced by a single angle link composed of a single rigid piece ofmaterial. When such an angle link is employed in the inventive secondarycontrol system, the cam roller, link and depresser 64 operate in exactlythe same way as above described when the bullet passes through thecylindrical sleeve from bottom to top. However, when the bullet passesthrough the cylindrical sleeve from top to bottom, cam roller 68,instead of rotating out of the way, simply forces the angle link toagain rotate counterclockwise about shaft 62 so that depresser 64depresses tripping button 58. However, because pressure switch 36 is notactuated during the withdrawal stroke of the compactor, simultaneousactivation of both switches does not occur and hence a full compactionchamber is not indicated. Moreover, if a time delay switch is employedin this embodiment, the bullet passing downwardly through thecylindrical sleeve trips the time delay switch only momentarily which,as indicated above, does not activate the electrical circuitry of thetime delay switch.

The foregoing description and drawings have been provided forillustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention in any way. All reasonable modifications not specificallyset forth are intended to be included in the present invention, which isto be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable refuse handling apparatus having moveable means thereinfor compacting refuse in a compaction chamber and a primary controlmeans sensitive to the compaction force applied to the refuse containedin the compaction chamber, a secondary control system sensitive to thelevel of refiise in the compaction chamber, said secondary controlsystem comprising:

a flexible cable attached at one end to said moveable means;

suspending means for suspending the other end of said flexible cable,said suspending means positioned between the ends of said flexible cableand non-fixedly attached to said flexible cable;

a weight attached to the suspended end of said flexible cable;

a bullet attached to said flexible cable above said weight;

guiding means positioned between said suspending means and said bulletfor guiding said flexible cable, said guiding means adapted to allow thepassage of said bullet therethrough; and

a switch fixedly positioned with respect to said guiding means andadapted to be tripped as the bullet passes through said guiding means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: main control meansresponsive to the simultaneous activation of both the primary controlmeans and said switch for reacting when said compaction chamber isfilled with compacted refuse.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said main control means isadapted to prevent further compaction cycles of the apparatus when saidcompaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse and after saidmoveable means has returned to its original position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said main control means isadapted to actuate a light or sound producing element.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said switch is a time delayswitch adapted to react only when said bullet trips said switch for apredetermined period of time.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said main control means isadapted to prevent further compaction cycles of the apparatus when saidcompaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse and after saidmoveable means has returned to its original position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said main control means isadapted to actuate a light or sound producing element.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guiding means is a sleeveand further wherein the crosssectional configuration of said sleeve isthe same as the cross-sectional configuration of said bullet.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve and said bulletare circular in horizontal crosssection.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said suspending means is apulley.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said moveable means is aplunger which moves vertically downward in its compression stroke andvertically upward in its return stroke.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said suspending means issecured to a portion of said apparatus above the vertically highestpoint reached by said moveable means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said suspending meanscomprises at least two pulleys.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bullet is movablyattached to said flexible cable.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising a markerfixedly mounted on said refuse handling apparatus for indicating thelevel of the moveable means in the compaction chamber at which theswitch will be tripped by said bullet.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a secondbullet spaced from the other bullet and attached to said flexible cable.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second bullet ispositioned on said flexible cable to trip said switch when the moveablemeans is jammed by a foreign body and wherein said other bullet ispositioned on said flexible cable to trip said switch when the cornpaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse.

18. In a portable refuse handling apparatus having a compaction chamber,means to feed refuse into said compaction chamber, a hydraulicallypowered reciprocating ram for compressing refuse in said compactionchamber, a pressure sensitive switch responsive to the pressure of thehydraulic fluid powering said reciprocating ram for determining when therefuse in said compaction chamber has been subjected to a predeterminedamount of compression, a secondary control system including a secondswitch adapted to be activated when said reciprocating ram is at apredetermined height, and main control means responsive to thesimultaneous activation of said pressure sensitive switch and saidsecond switch when said compaction chamber is filled with compactedrefuse, the improvement being that said secondary control systemcomprises:

a flexible cable attached at one end to said reciprocating ram;suspending means for suspending the other end of said flexible cable,said suspending means positioned between the ends of said flexible cableand non-fixedly attached to said flexible cable;

a weight attached to the suspended end of said flexible cable; a bulletattached to said flexible cable above said weight;

guiding means positioned between said suspending means and said bulletfor guiding said flexible cable, said guiding means adapted to allow thepassage of said bullet therethrough; and

a switch fixedly positioned with respect to said guiding means andadapted to be tripped as the bullet passes through said guiding means.

19. In a refuse compacting apparatus having a ram for compacting refusein a compaction chamber, a control system comprising:

a flexible cable attached at one end to said ram for movement therewith;

support means for movably suspending said flexible cable at a heightabove that at which said one end of the flexible cable is attached tothe ram;

triggering means attached to said flexible cable at the opposite endthereof and suspended from said support means;

guide means through which said flexible cable passes and is guided andwith which said triggering means associates, said guide means beinglocated intermediate said support means and said triggering means whenthe ram is in its highest noncompacting position;

switch means associated with said guide means and adapted to be switchedwhen said triggering means is pulled by the flexible cable intoassociation with said guide means; and

control means for reacting to the switching of said switch means inresponse to said ram being in a predetermined position in its stroke fora predetermined period of time.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said triggering means isadapted to pass through said guide means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said switch means is a timedelay switch, and wherein said control means reacts after saidtriggering means remains in association with said guide means and saidswitch means for the delay period of said switch means.

caused said control means to react.

1. In a portable refuse handling apparatus having moveable means therein for compacting refuse in a compaction chamber and a primary control means sensitive to the compaction force applied to the refuse contained in the compaction chamber, a secondary control system sensitive to the level of refuse in the compaction chamber, said secondary control system comprising: a flexible cable attached at one end to said moveable means; suspending means for suspending the other end of said flexible cable, said suspending means positioned between the ends of said flexible cable and non-fixedly attached to said flexible cable; a weight attached to the suspended end of said flexible cable; a bullet attached to said flexible cable above said weight; guiding means positioned between said suspending means and said bullet for guiding said flexible cable, said guiding means adapted to allow the passage of said bullet therethrough; and a switch fixedly positioned with respect to said guiding means and adapted to be tripped as the bullet passes through said guiding means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: main control means responsive to the simultaneous activation of both the primary control means and said switch for reacting when said compaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said main control means is adapted to prevent further compaction cycles of the apparatus when said compaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse and after said moveable means has returned to its original position.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said main control means is adapted to actuate a light or sound producing element.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said switch is a time delay switch adapted to react only when said bullet trips said switch for a predetermined period of time.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said main control means is adapted to prevent further compaction cycles of the apparatus when said compaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse and after said moveable means has returned to its original position.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said main control means is adapted to actuate a light or sound producing element.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guiding means is a sleeve and further wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said sleeve is the same as the cross-sectional configuration of said bullet.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve and said bullet are circular in horizontal cross-section.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said suspending means is a pulley.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said moveable means is a plunger which moves vertically downward in its compression stroke and vertically upward in its return stroke.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said suspending means is secured to a portion of said apparatus above the vertically highest point reached by said moveable means.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said suspending means comprises at least two pulleys.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bullet is movably attached to said flexible cable.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 and further comprising a marker fixedly mounted on said refuse handling apparatus for indicating the level of the moveable means in the compaction chamber at which the switch will be tripped by said bullet.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a second bullet spaced from the other bullet and attached to said flexible cable.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second bullet is positioned on said flexible cable to trip said switch when the moveable means is jammed by a foreign body and wherein said other bullet is positioned on said flexible cable to trip said switch when the compaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse.
 18. In a portable refuse handling apparatus having a compaction chamber, means to feed refuse into said compaction chamber, a hydraulically powered reciprocating ram for compressing refuse in said compaction chamber, a pressure sensitive switch responsive to the pressure of the hydraulic fluid powering said reciprocating ram for determining when the refuse in said compaction chamber has been subjected to a predetermined amount of compression, a secondary control system including a second switch adapted to be activated when said reciprocating ram is at a predetermined height, and main control means responsive to the simultaneous activation of said pressure sensitive switch and said second switch when said compaction chamber is filled with compacted refuse, the improvement being that said secondary control system comprises: a flexible cable attached at one end to said reciprocating ram; suspending means for suspending the other end of said flexible cable, said suspending means positioned between the ends of said flexible cable and non-fixedly attached to said flexible cable; a weight attached to the suspended end of said flexible cable; a bullet attached to said flexible cable above said weight; guiding means positioned between said suspending means and said bullet for guiding said flexible cable, said guiding means adapted to allow the passage of said bullet therethrough; and a switch fixedly positioned with respect to said guiding means and adapted to be tripped as the bullet passes through said guiding means.
 19. In a refuse compacting apparatus having a ram for compacting refuse in a compaction chamber, a control system comprising: a flexible cable attached at one end to said ram for movement therewith; support means for movably suspending said flexible cable at a height above that at which said one end of the flexible cable is attached to the ram; triggering means attached to said flexible cable at the opposite end thereof and suspended from said support means; guide means through which said flexible cable passes and is guided and with which said triggering means associates, said guide means being located intermediate said support means and said triggering means when the ram is in its highest noncompacting position; switch means associated with said guide means and adapted to be switched when said triggering means is pulled by the flexible cable into association with said guide means; and control means for reacting to the switching of said switch means in response to said ram being in a predetermined position in its stroke for a predetermined period of time.
 20. Apparatus according to Claim 19 wherein said triggering means is adapted to pass through said guide means.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said switch means is a time delay switch, and wherein said control means reacts after said triggering means remains in association with said guide means and said switch means for the delay period of said switch means.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said control means reacts by sounding a buzzer or lighting a light.
 23. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said control means reacts by preventing the apparatus from recycling until the elimination of the condition which caused said control means to react. 